Signal Transduction in Vertebrate Olfactory Receptor Cells

Abstract

When exposed to odorants, olfactory receptor neurons respond with the generation of action potentials. This conversion of odorous information in the inhaled air into electrical nerve impulses is accomplished by an intracellular enzymatic cascade, which leads to the opening of ion channels and the generation of a receptor current. The resulting depolarisation of the neuron activates voltage-gated ion channels to trigger action potentials, which are conveyed to the olfactory bulb in the brain. This review summarises the information gained over recent years about the details of olfactory signal transduction, including many biophysical parameters helpful for a quantitative description of olfactory signalling.